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Some sexual innuendo. For example, when clicked on multiple times, different characters will say things like, "I said a bow string not a G . . . never mind".

Language

Hidden in the gameplay are a couple of explicit words.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Not applicable

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that although the ESRB rates the games as Teen games, they truly split the line between a game for teens and a more mature audience. Considering the amount of violence, the dark nature of the games, and concerns with language and sexual content, these games would be better suited to an older audience.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's it about?

In WARCRAFT III/WARCRAFT III: THE FROZEN THRONE, players take the role of one of four major civilizations: orcs, humans, night elves, or the undead. Each has its own history, but they are intertwined. Each also has its own specialties -- from different military units to different upgrades. In general, the game is very similar to other Real-Time-Strategy (RTS) games.

One major difference with Warcraft III is the addition of heroes. Heroes can build up experience and then get special skills and spells they can use to help their own forces or defeat the enemy. Heroes can also pick up or buy items in the game that can be stored in their inventory. These items typically add to the abilities of the hero.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

Cinematic segments help to carry the storyline. From a technical point of view, they are very well done. From a content point of view, they are pervasively sinister, violent, and contain mature themes such as demons/demonic possession, deception, murder, and revenge.

Several other, albeit more hidden elements, add concerns for younger players. For example, players can make a character say not-so-innocent comments or blow up creatures in an explosion of guts and blood by clicking on them repeatedly. Also hidden in the gameplay are a couple of explicit words. Although these games are popular, parents would be wise to look at other games before getting either of these for their kids.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about fantasy and violence. Would the violence style of this game feel different if you were playing as a World War II soldier instead of, say, an orc? Which civilization do you prefer to play as? Why?

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About Our Rating System

The age displayed for each title is the minimum one for which it's developmentally appropriate. We recently updated all of our reviews to show only this age, rather than the multi-color "slider." Get more information about our ratings.

Maybe not for very young children, but certainly not even close to that bad.

While there are some mature themes in this game, they certainly do not merit a "Not For Kids" rating. And to click on units enough times to get something edgier out of them would take a while, and children would never spend so much time doing that anyway, they'd be going to attack the enemy or be defending their own base. As for the exploding creatures, NOBODY CLICKS ON CREATURES REPEATEDLY UNLESS THEY KNOW THAT THEY WILL EXPLODE, so there is no chance at all of a child (or anybody) ever discovering this on accident. The blood and gore is shown from a bird's eye view and not noticable, and is only on screen for a second, and as the other reviewers have written, the game is educational, as it teaches strategy and the usage of the mind, and is easily suitable for small children. My brother began playing at age six, and I at age ten, and neither of us had any trouble whatsoever. And finally, while there are some bad role models here, they are portrayed in a negative fashion and are outwighed by the selfless and sacrificing heroes. The game attempts to convey a message in the main storyline about teamwork and forgiveness, and good triumphing over evil. I walked away with a code of honor and justice, and if anybody somehow manages to take a negative message out of this, do tell me how. Thank you.

Commonsense Media? More like Ignorant Media

Edgy Humour? Sexual innuendo? Explicit words? Not for kids?
This just proved that your review is full of biased statements that are unsupported by factual evidence. Warcraft is a real time strategy game that revolves around teamwork and co-operation. Commonsense Media's justification made this game sound like it was something in the Grand Theft Auto series... You also demonstrate to the audience (who are probably looking for a legitimate review since they are on this website) that you exaggerate over the most miniscule detail, blowing them out of proportion. You gave it a 4/5 for language, yet your justification stated "Hidden in the gameplay are a couple of explicit words". Am I the only one that finds that sentence Ironic?
Blood, Guts, Murder? Overstatement. When something dies, it turns into a corpse outlined in red. No big deal. There is absolutley no sexual content that would make me question the rating. Again I find it ironic that Commonsense media chooses to criticise the sexual content of a game that has no intent of any sexual references.

Common Sense Media, are you out of your mind? Did you actually play this game?

Kids could play this game! Their is no reason this should be only for 17+ and up? Have you guys actually PLAYED this game? You obviously haven't by what you have rated it to be. I have seriously never seen half the things you guys rant about in the game that you do here (their is a little blood, but I haven't seen so called "guts" or gore). Did some parents pay you to do this?
Well, this game isn't too bad for what it is, still has a large player base, and nicely done RTS combat. You have to use strategies to overcome your enemies and destroy their bases. I personally liked starcraft better (now THAT game is a little more violent, but still appropiate for most teens over 14) because of its ease of use, but this game isn't half-bad either.

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